In brief
Jordan's military fired rockets at a village in southern Syria's Daraa province, killing five civilians, following a Greek Orthodox church shooting that killed nine people. The Jordanian government insisted it was targeting terrorist organisations, while Syria denied being notified and closed the sole border crossing with Jordan. The incident has heightened tensions in the region, with both sides announcing investigations and increased security measures. The attack demonstrates the fragile security environment and the complexity of cross-border retaliation in the Middle East.
Jordan’s military has reported that it struck a village in the southern Daraa province of Syria, killing five civilians, including women, children and an elderly man. The attack was described by Jordanian officials as a retaliation for a Monday shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan’s Karak district that killed nine people and wounded dozens.
Jordan's Defence Ministry said the strikes targeted “terrorist organisations” but did not name the groups or disclose the type of weaponry used. The government claimed it had coordinated with the Syrian authorities, a claim that Syria has denied, saying it was not notified of the operation.
Syria’s state media reported that the attack was carried out by Jordanian fighter jets and that the casualty figures were confirmed by local health officials. The Syrian government, in turn, closed the sole passenger and commercial crossing with Jordan – the Nassib border gate – and announced “comprehensive investigations” into the incident.
The closure will suspend all passenger and commercial traffic in both directions, the Syrian statement said, citing the need to protect “travellers and workers at the crossing.” Syria also stated it would open direct communication channels with Jordanian officials to clarify the circumstances of the targeting.
Earlier on Monday, Jordanian security forces detained two brothers and a brother‑in‑law who were linked to the church shooting. The Public Security Directorate said the suspects were found hiding in an abandoned house near Karak before dawn, and Interior Minister Mazen al‑Faraya confirmed that all attackers were Jordanian nationals.
The shooting at the church, which took place last Friday, resulted in nine fatalities and 34 injuries. The incident sparked outrage among the local Christian community and international observers, who called for a thorough investigation into the perpetrators and their motives.
This escalation underscores the fragile security situation in the region, where cross‑border incidents are often met with swift military responses. The Jordan‑Syria dialogue remains tense, with both governments indicating a willingness to cooperate while maintaining strict control over their borders.
All parties have urged restraint, while the international community watches closely, noting that any further incident could have wider implications for regional stability and humanitarian concerns in the war‑torn areas of Syria.”
